Family announces burial arrangements for ex-CJN Kutigi

The family of Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi has announced that the deceased Chief Justice of Nigeria will be buried on Wednesday, October 24.

Kutigi, who was CJN of Nigeria from Jan. 30, 2007 until Dec. 30 2009, died in a London hospital on Saturday night after a brief illness.

Announcing the burial arrangement in a statement sent to The Punch, the family said: “the body of the late jurist is scheduled to arrive Abuja from London in the morning on Wednesday, October 24”.

Burial is scheduled to take place same day by 2pm at the Gudu Cemetery Abuja, after Janazah prayers at the National Mosque Abuja.

Fidau prayers will take place on Thursday at 10am at the residence of the late jurist in Asokoro Abuja.

The Fidau prayers will also take place simultaneously at the Etsu Nupe’s Palace in Bida and in Kutigi, Niger State.

Kutigi is survived by 18 children and over 40 grandchildren. Justice Kutigi served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State until 1976, when he was appointed High Court judge.

He served in that position for more than a decade and later joined the Supreme Court in 1992.

After 10 years at the Supreme Court, based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to the position of Chief Justice to succeed Justice Salihu Alfa Belgore, who retired on January 17, 2007.